Biography

After 7 years of administrative service to the university's central IT organization, and 15 years of service as department head of Computer Technology (CPT), Jeffrey L. Whitten returned to the faculty on Jan 1, 2010 to resume his academic career. For the previous 7 years he served as Associate Vice President for IT Enterprise Applications (ITEA). In that capacity, Jeff's organization was responsible for development and maintenance of Purdue's core enterprise applications such as student services, financials, human resources, procurement, and university advancement. During his tenure in ITEA, these core applications were modernized through implementation of an ERP.

Professor Whitten originally joined the Computer Technology department in 1979 with primary responsibility to develop a systems analysis and design curriculum. As an assistant professor, he developed a five-course systems analysis and design course sequence, the most ambitious curriculum of its type at that time. He twice won the James G. Dwyer Award as the best teacher in the School of Technology as selected by the School’s students.

After his promotion to associate professor in 1984, Jeff co-authored Systems Analysis and Design Methods. This textbook, now published by Irwin/McGraw-Hill, defragmented its market and maintained its #1 market position through seven editions spanning twenty years. More than 700 schools adopted it during that period.

Jeff was named as department head in 1988. In that capacity he provided leadership for curriculum diversification and evolution to reflect emerging technologies and paradigm shifts such as client/server computing, telecommunications and networking, and electronic business and Internet-based application development. During that tenure, the department experienced substantial enrollment growth and curriculum diversification.

Most recently, Jeff has been serving as program chair for the department's young graduate program. He teaches graduate courses related to information technology management and leadership. In the undergraduate program, Jeff also teaches senior-level prototype courses in systems integration and commercial package implementation.